Meningitis B Jab For Babies

All babies in England and Scotland will receive meningitis vaccinations from September.

12:28 22 June 2015

Children in England and Scotland will be the first in the world to benefit from meningitis vaccine, which will be rolled out in September.

 

Meningitis is an infection that inflames the brain’s lining and affects mainly young children and teenagers. 

 

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor John Watson, said: "This really is a devastating disease, it can kill up to one in 10 of the people who get the disease, and leave others with severe disabilities, loss of limbs and so it's really important."

 

Julie Tuckley added: "It's ruined his life, from a mother's point of view, completely... Every single day is a challenge for Tommy, even just going to school, trying to potty train, going up the stairs.

"But he doesn't give in, he'll try anything."

 

The Bexsero MenB vaccine will be officially added to the national childhood immunisation scheme on September with babies getting the first three jobs. 

 

Meanwhile, teenagers aged 17 and 18 will also benefit from the combined dose to protect against meningitis A,C, W, and Y strains.